Rolls-Royce Cullinan vs GWM H6 PHEV

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan in South Africa

Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Cullinan Series II Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
Price on request
⚡ 420 kW 🔧 850 Nm ⛽ 5.95 km/l
VS
GWM H6 PHEV in South Africa

GWM H6 PHEV

1.5T Ultra Luxury Hi-4 4WD PHEV DHT Plug-in Hybrid Current
ZAR 749,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 268 kW 🔧 760 Nm ⛽ 90.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cullinan
Fuel Economy H6 PHEV
🛡 Safety Cullinan
📦 Practicality Cullinan
🔑 Ownership H6 PHEV

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Cullinan H6 PHEV
Maximum Power 420 kW @ 5000-6000 rpm 268 kW
Maximum Torque 850 Nm @ 1600-4250 rpm 760 Nm
Engine Size 6749 cc 1500 cc
Claimed Mileage 5.95 km/l 90.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 173 mm 170 mm
Boot / Load Bay 612 l 560 l
Airbags 8 Front double, front side and side curtain airbags
Kerb Weight 2725 kg 1980 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 4 years; regional conditions apply 7 years / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both Cullinan and H6 PHEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cullinan +1 pts
Efficiency H6 PHEV +68 pts
Safety Cullinan +61 pts
Practicality Cullinan +7 pts
Ownership H6 PHEV +21 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Cullinan

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

H6 PHEV

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Cullinan

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

H6 PHEV

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Cullinan H6 PHEV
Model Introduced Year 2018 Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Cullinan Series II, the current evolution of the marque's five-door super-luxury SUV Current South African H6 PHEV listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History Cullinan was introduced in South Africa in 2018 and received its most extensive evolution as Cullinan Series II in May 2024 Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since 2024 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Five-door luxury SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active published
Segment Full-size super-luxury SUV SUV
Vehicle Type Internal-combustion sport utility vehicle SUV
Color Note - Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.5T Ultra Luxury Hi-4 4WD PHEV DHT
Tare Mass Kg - 1946 kg
Spec Cullinan H6 PHEV
Drivetrain Layout All-wheel drive with all-wheel steering 4WD / AWD
Transfer Case ATC 13 transfer case Not Applicable
Differential Lock No lockable differential Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters No Not Applicable
Gearbox 8-speed ZF automatic Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 2.81:1 Not Applicable
Number of Gears 8 Not Applicable
Transmission Type 8-speed ZF automatic Automatic
Clutch Type Torque converter Not Applicable
Drivetrain All-wheel drive 4x2
4WD Engagement Everywhere off-road capability engaged by one button Available
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Available
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Everywhere button Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles No Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox Type 8-speed ZF automatic Automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Axle Layout All-wheel-drive power delivery with active rear-axle steering Two-wheel drive
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds 8 Not Applicable
Gear Shift Type Satellite Aided automatic gear selection Automatic
LSD Available - Not Applicable
Gear Shift Indicator - Yes
Drive Mode Selector - 4WD/off-road drive mode support

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Cullinan leads by 0 points

Both Cullinan and H6 PHEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 73 /100
Lead 0 points
Data 94% confidence
73
#1 Winner

Cullinan

94% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 99 Check Efficiency 28
Performance 99
Efficiency 28
Safety 99
Practicality 75
Ownership 44
Leads by 0 points
73
#2

H6 PHEV

79% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Safety 38
Performance 98
Efficiency 96
Safety 38
Practicality 68
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Cullinan +1 Efficiency H6 PHEV +68 Safety Cullinan +61 Practicality Cullinan +7 Ownership H6 PHEV +21

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Cullinan

Performance 99/100
Efficiency 28/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 75/100
Ownership 44/100

H6 PHEV

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 96/100
Safety 38/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Rolls-Royce Cullinan wins with 73 pts vs 73 pts for H6 PHEV

In structured scoring, Cullinan emerges as the stronger overall package. However, H6 PHEV may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Cullinan edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Cullinan 28 vs H6 PHEV 96. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Cullinan 99, H6 PHEV 38. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Cullinan 44, H6 PHEV 65. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Cullinan 75, H6 PHEV 68. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cullinan 99, H6 PHEV 98. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Cullinan edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Cullinan scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Cullinan and H6 PHEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cullinan scores 99 vs 98.

Efficiency: Cullinan scores 28 vs 96.

Safety: Cullinan scores 99 vs 38.

Practicality: Cullinan scores 75 vs 68.

Ownership: Cullinan scores 44 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives Cullinan the advantage in this comparison.